Featured / September 1, 2024

Great Cornard Leisure Centre Outdoor Swimming Pool

Growing up, I was lucky enough for my primary school to have a swimming pool. It was a small and humid spot; just 15 metres long and with water heated to 32 degrees Celsius. But still, as a state school in the UK, I always felt exceptionally lucky to have it. But swimming at Great Cornard Leisure Centre truly feels like the next level of school swimming pools.

First opened in the 1970s Great Conard Leisure Centre is part of Thomas Gainsborough School, a secondary school and sixth-form home to some 1,400 students. But, outside of school hours, it’s open to anyone who fancies a dip, offering a mix of leisure, lane, and triathlon training swim sessions.

Don’t let any misconceptions about school swimming pools put you off — this place had a sparkle about it, in large parts thanks to a major refurbishment in 2022. This is also why you’ll somewhat confusingly see a plaque on the wall saying it was opened by Commonwealth Games medalist Karen Pickering MBE.

It’s a heated pool surrounded by sunloungers and umbrellas and, in its walled courtyard of blue, it does feel like a place to switch off from the world. But weirdly, my favourite part was the carefree way in which you just turn up, pay, and have a swim.

As a seasoned lido swimmer, I’m used to fighting it out on the booking apps once the temperature approaches the 30s; even in cooler months I’m known to organise my life by booking up a week’s worth of swims in advance. But, for now at least, at Great Conard Leisure Centre there are no apps and no web portals. All I had to do was ask “two for a swim please”.

The Key Details

What Are The Opening Hours For The Great Cornard Leisure Centre Outdoor Swimming Pool?

The good news is that access to Great Cornard Leisure Centre’s Outdoor Swimming Pool has increased dramatically during the past few years. Back in 2018, The Lido Guide reported it was only open for 90 minutes a day during peak season; we’re pleased to say this is no longer the case.

You’ll want to check the most recent timetables on their website here and they also put regular updates to their Facebook page. The main thing to remember though is that this is a working school, so in term time you won’t be able to access the facilities during school hours.

To give you a guide, during the 2024 summer holidays they offered public swims from 10am–8.30pm on weekdays and from 7.30am–1pm on weekends. Their autumn back-to-school timetable offered public swimming 4pm–9.30pm on weekdays and from 7.30am–4pm on weekends, with some gaps in-between.

How Big Is Great Cornard Leisure Centre Outdoor Swimming Pool?

The pool is 25 metres by 10 metres.

How Do I Get To Great Cornard Leisure Centre Outdoor Swimming Pool?

For drivers, there’s ample free car parking at the centre — as well as in the nearby Sudbury town centre if you fancy a wander and some cake.

Greater Anglia trains also run to Sudbury train station, which is a 30 minute walk from the pool.

Is Great Cornard Leisure Centre Outdoor Swimming Pool Heated?

Yes, this is a heated outdoor swimming pool — I’d also say they’ve got the temperature pretty spot on.